Disclaimer: o.k. Everyone…this is for this chapter and all others- I don't own Alice Academy or any of its characters. Besides, I'm poor, so suing me wont earn you anything beyond a few peanuts.

'Thoughts'

" Actual conversation"

Oh! And before I start on the next chapter, many thanks to who have reviewed…please continue to do so and let me know how to proceed.

Mikan Sakura decided that nothing ever compared to the beauty of the sunset, even if one witnessed it from within the Alcatraz-like walls of Alice Academy. It had so many hues of red and pink and orange and sometimes as it got darker, it would look like violet tinted with various shades of blues and greys. She unconsciously compared the violet shades to the eyes of her best friend Hotaru Imai and the other hues to those of her other friends, Yuu and Ruka. As, far as the reds and oranges were concerned, she never got too far with comparing them to a certain 'someone's' eyes because she would begin to sport huge red blushes on both cheeks. Yet, the same colours would always infuse in her feelings of warmth and safety, a sense of being complete. Yet again like someone's eyes!

But before she could begin to contemplate more, she heard sounds outside the door of the hall.

Flashback

Footsteps echoed in the hall and grew in volume as they neared the big room. Soon, the footsteps stopped and the large oak doors to the hall opened, revealing a tall handsome man with blond hair falling over his face. His face held the cheery smile that people associated with his nature, but his deep blue eyes were another story.

There was just one occupant in the room and she, currently had her back turned to the door. The fading lights of dusk shone through the partially curtained windows to outline the slender figure of a petite brunette, soft curls spilling over her shoulders as the evening lights put an ethereal glow in her kind caramel eyes. On hearing the door open, she turned around, a soft smile lighting up her face at the sight of the man there. She had been waiting for him, these past few hours.

"Father…" she murmured, her happy whisper dying at the sight of the barely concealed pain in those blue eyes.

End flashback

Narumi had expected Mikan to fuss over him the minute he entered the hall. While his cheery countenance often fooled others into thinking that he had no cares or worries in the world, her soulful brown eyes would always manage to see right through it. And then he would be interrogated until she was satisfied that he was suffering from no known ailment or depression. Normally, this was highly enjoyable, because it unconsciously strengthened the bond they shared and during those times her caring words washed over him like his own personal, soothing balm. Now was no different. But, this time, the problem was more than he had anticipated. It was too dangerous. And he had meant every word he had said earlier. She was all he had, and he would have died before he willingly dragged her into any of this. But, even as she hovered above him like a worried mother hen, he was tempted to answer her anxious questions with a 'yes, mommy!'

" Emmm…what happened?"

" Nothing" was the cheerful reply, (not that she expected anything different) as Narumi sunk into an awaiting cushion and reached for a waiting cup of tea.

"Was Jin-Jin making trouble for you?"

" No"

"Did something go wrong during class…?" no answer. "Did any student create trouble?"

"Well…"

" That's it, isn't it." (Mouth twists into a delightful little pout) "I know I shouldn't have burst out at Natsume like that!" (Blush on cheeks) " I knew he'd try to take it out on you in class…and I bet you encouraged him (throws hands up in a 'Kami-sama-save-me' gesture), and then Jin-Jin came and then you were both reprimanded and then…" And so it continued.

By the time Mikan realised that Narumi was not accepting defeat, he was quietly sitting on the large cushioned armchair, alternating between looking out the window and at her, a look of longing etched on his face. She quietly approached him.

" Its none of the above, is it?"

He grinned at her and her serious expression, but replied nonetheless. " It should not concern you, Mikan…it has nothing to do with you, Mikan. It was a staff meeting and that's all…"

"But…"

"Yes, it was a serious discussion, but nothing that should cause you to worry, o.k. ? It dealt with a few important matters, but that is school and you know better than to mix them up with home…"

Mikan continued to stare at him, mostly because she could sense some sought of inner turmoil within him, as if he was making an effort of trying to convince her, which directly led to the possibility that he was lying. But, she knew better than to pester him. She was a big girl and mature too. Besides, she knew he would come out with it eventually. So, sighing, she knelt next to him and cupped both his cheeks in her slim hands. She softly smiled and leaned over to graze his forehead with her lips.

" I'm going now. I promised Nonoko I'd help her with some research. I promise not to be late."

With that, she walked towards the door. Upon reaching it and partially twisting herself outside, she peeked in and found him still smiling in her direction. She grinned back as she mouthed something at him.

Narumi smiled when Mikan left him, mouthing the words, " take care, dad." Those were precious words to him.

Mikan was, on her way to Nonoko, unconsciously taking the same route that Narumi had taken. She passed by the same windows and saw the same gardens. But the sky had already darkened to a nearly-pitch black. She thought back to her conversation with him and decided that it was definitely troubling. His eyes were always windows to his soul, for those who cared to look close enough and in them she could clearly that something was wrong and that something was not destined for her ears. While her age had lent maturity to her thoughts and mellowed down her boundless energy and enthusiasm into something manageable, it hadn't cured her of either her stubborn determination or her innate curiosity, both of which continued to get her into trouble. Thus, Mikan being Mikan simply couldn't wait to know what the entire problem was all about, simply so that she could provide her expert advise and soothe the invisible wrinkles that suddenly popped up on Narumi's face because of it. But, then again, Narumi being Narumi, it wouldn't be easy.

' I wish he'd just tell me…'

Mikan leaned her temple on the cool glass of the window and softly looked out into the darkness. The darkness was calming in its own way.

There was a time when Mikan had wondered how the words 'father' or 'mother' would sound from her lips. She never had any bodily person to address either those words or the feelings that accompanied them. While it had never left her feeling lonely when she was little, curiosity and longing would get in the way and slowly she would find herself wishing for a pair of arms to hold her or a soft voice to sing her a lullaby, things her stargazing grandfather never seemed to get right. But, in his own way, her grandfather had completed her and refused to let her feel the pang, his quirks, his words of wisdom, his smile, and the warmth in his eyes; everything had helped keep her safe. But, one day, her protective cocoon had shattered.

She still remembered the day as it were yesterday. The pain was still just as fresh. She had only been 11. A care free, happy-go-lucky 11 years old. She remembered being called from class, a letter being gently pushed into her hands. She remembered Jinno's voice protesting against the giving the letter as such news was a distraction to the 'stupid girl'. She also remembered the words in the letter getting foggy and blurred as silver streaks slowly slid down her plump cheeks. But that was all she remembered, for she had fainted from shock. She would never know that someone's arms had been waiting to receive her or the uproar that the news caused or that she had been down with death-like high fever that had caused Ice-queen Hotaru to cry and bad-boy Natsume to burn everything within a miles radius in worry. She would wake up to lots and lots of worried faces and realise only one thing- her heart hurt for it remembered, but her tear ducts weren't working anymore. She had missed out on her Grandfather's funeral, because the authorities had refused to keep his body so long. She would later keep carnations at a small grave and kneel down to pray, only to find sobs choking her and her mind devoid of words. Mikan, in the days that followed, suffered from an overwhelming sense of loss, both from the death of her beloved grandfather and the knowledge that she was all alone.

But, it seemed that someone refused to let her grieve inside. Narumi, with his constant grin and graceful prance was her shadow and refused to let her shun his company. His quirks and warmth and smile reminded her of her grandfather and she would try to trample down on her sadness and zip up her pain. But, somehow he managed to tear those walls down. She remembered the day when her fear and loneliness had gotten the better of her and she posed Narumi the same question she had posed him nearly a year ago, "can I sleep next to you?" And as she was tucked in his bed, with the comforting weight of his arm on her, she felt more at ease than she had felt in a long time and as sleep stole over her, a sense of belonging washed over her. Little did she know then, that he had had a similar experience.

The next morning was one that Mikan would hold dearer than all her memories, because that was the day that Narumi had asked her if she would object to being adopted by him. She remembered the euphoric feeling of belonging to someone at last and it never stopped, not when the Academy expressed it displeasure and not when Narumi threatened to resign in retaliation to it. She held on to the feeling tight even when it seemed it wouldn't work out and when Natsume and Sumire sneered at her. She would only remember the warmth the feelings brought and how wide Yuu's smile was or how warm Hotaru's eyes were, the day she was actually adopted. Sometimes it surprised her that it still managed to overwhelm her, even after over 5 years.

Mikan slowly raised her face from the window as she shook her head clear of imaginary cobwebs and mentally reminded herself of her appointment. She gave one last look into the night as she proceeded towards the girls hostel.

Outside, in the shade of an old sakura tree, a young man sat, his ebony bags hiding his ruby eyes, as he tried to confront the feeling that a certain pretty brunette managed to evoke in him, even if it was merely a few glimpses of her through a large window.